Plans lodged for community facility at The Ponds

Australand and Landcom have lodged a development application with Blacktown City Council to build a community resource hub at The Ponds. Construction is expected to start late 2012, with completion due in 2013.

The 1100 square metre multi-purpose building will provide several community facilities such as meeting and technology rooms, function rooms, children’s art and play areas, a large commercial kitchen and spaces for community services.

Nigel Edgar, General Manager, Residential NSW from Australand commented, “The Ponds is a growing community with over 900 homes already occupied. In addition to the extensive facilities already built in the masterplanned community, we determined that a project of this size could also significantly benefit from a central community resource hub. The proposed hub will offer local residents a place to meet friends and neighbours and help to foster a strong community spirit.”

“The aim is to create a life-long learning environment for residents. It has been designed to provide health and wellbeing opportunities, early childhood clinics, counseling services, recreational and cultural programs and a venue for family events. A community garden is also included in the plans.”

The proposal makes use of the existing Sales and Marketing Centre on Riverbank Drive with a revised internal layout and construction of an additional hall. The proposed community resource hub is located centrally within The Ponds and is linked by a network of pathways, cycleways and roads that connect to the wider community. It has been designed to meet the diverse needs of The Ponds community.

John Palmer Public School, the parklands, future proposed retail centre and eastern playing fields are all within close proximity to the community resource hub.

A series of workshops have been held since 2008 in consultation with local residents, the community and Council to determine the most effective design and use for the community resources hub.

Cox Architects designed the original Sales and Display Centre. BN Architects designed the reuse and extension to complete the community resource hub design. The hub is designed to allow for the multiple uses of rooms, and boasts a number of sustainable design elements including a 60KW solar panel system to keep running costs down.

The Ponds Community Facilities

Creating a community hub has been a focus of community facility planning at The Ponds. The hub will be based on the refurbishment of the sales centre that is strategically positioned in close proximity to the local school.

In the future a retail centre will be constructed close to the centre.  The sales centre will ultimately be extended and converted into a multi-functional community facility. It will include meeting and technology education rooms and a large commercial kitchen for use by hirers and hospitality students.

The aim is to provide a life-long learning environment for the residents at The Ponds in this multi-purpose facility. The car park area will be transformed into a hall for recreational activities such as yoga, pilates and tai chi. 

Landcom also engaged a firm to undertake extensive collaboration with the community to ensure they are fully involved in the decision making process for this important community asset. Blacktown City Council will manage this central facility. It has embraced the community hub concept of keeping several major facilities in a common location, which will greatly assist with their management.